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Kharkiv (Ukrainian: Харків = Kharkiv, Russian: Харьков =Kharkov) is a major city in the Kharkiv region of the Ukraine and is the second largest city in Ukrain] with a population of over 1.5 million inhabitants.

The city is located in the northeast of the country. Kharkiv can seem very foreign for western travelers because of Cyrillic letters. It would be very useful to learn to read the Cyrillic alphabet before coming to Ukraine, although many street signs on the buildings are now also written in Western-Latin letters.

Kharkivians generally speak both Ukrainian and Russian as it is situated only 30km from the Russian border, but in most cases the people mix the two languages together. English is spoken poorly, most often by young Ukrainians.

Kharkiv's central railway station, Kharkiv-Pasazhyrskyi, is located close to city centre. The metro station "Pivdennyi Vokzal" (метро "Пiвденний вокзал") links to the railway station. It has daily trains to all major cities and towns in Ukraine.
It makes sense to buy railway tickets in advance at Ukrainian railways' site [18] since trains are few and usually getting fully sold out. Usually if you are travelling to or from Kyiv on one of the Intercity+ trains you may download the PDF file with QR code to show the ticket on your phone screen either print it at home. But in some cases you will need to fetch tickets from any Ukrainian Railways ticket office first providing them the booking number.

The Metro is the fastest and easiest way of getting around. Every day it carries nearly one million people; it is the most convenient public transport in Kharkiv. There are three metro lines (red, blue and green).
To enter the Metro you need to buy a token at automats you'll see at the entrance (now token looks like paper receipt). One token is valid for one trip, no matter how far you go and how long it takes. A token costs 3 UAH. You need to put the token into the turnstile to enter and pass it. Make sure that you walk through the correct side of the turnstile otherwise there is the possibility that you will be hit by the internal metal gate!

Once you enter the platform you will notice that there are usually two directions the train goes.

Kharkiv Art Museum, Sovnarkomovskaya street, 9, kv. 11 -- excellent collection, attentive staff, antiquated ticketing system means you may need multiple tickets to gain access to all the rooms but the overall prices are still very low.

Kharkiv History Museum, Universytets'ka St, 5 (new main entrance on Konstitutskii Square not yet open as of March 2018). Excellent collection of artifacts from pre-history to present, upper floors' exhibits on World War II and current war in the Donbas have some English. Antiquated ticketing system means you may need multiple tickets to gain access to all the rooms but the overall prices are still very low.

Kharkiv Zoo (Зоопарк), Sums'ka 35 (Metro station Universytet), ☎+380 57 705-4490, [2]. 08:00-20:00. Kharkiv Zoo is one of the biggest and most famous in Ukraine. It’s located in the very centre of the city in Shevchenko Park. This zoo occupies a large area of 22 hectares.UAH30, child 5-13y UAH10, 0-4y free. (50.002221,36.230099)edit The zoo and parts of Shevchenko Park are currently being renovated as of 2017.

Central Market -- Tsentralnyi Rynok Pysunkivska St, near Metro station of same name, wander around the stalls of the historical structure of the market hall for fresh fruits and vegetables and marvel at the variety of raw meats available, and explore the outdoor markets for deals on import/export goods.

Familia (Familia), 14-A Skrypnika (metro Architektora Beketova), ☎+38 057 760 15 06 +38 095 455 93 96, [6]. 11am to 11pm. Conveniently located in the heart of old Kharkiv. Menu is a unique take on French, Italian and Ukrainian cuisine complemented by the restaurant’s wine list. Fresh and high quality ingredients, top-notch service, serene and classy atmosphere of dining rooms will turn each visit into an unforgettable experience. Expensive. (49.997617,36.237850)edit

Puzata Khata (Пузатахата), Sums'ka st. 2, ☎+380 44 3914699, [7]. 8:00-23:00. It is very popular with locals for low prices and quick service. The food here is usually great and cheap, mostly traditional Ukrainian dishes. Being a huge place it is almost always quite busy. You will be completely full for $3-4 per person there.(49.993324,36.232384)edit

Adriano (Адриано), Petrovskogo st., 35-А (metro Pushkinskaya), ☎+380 57 7004892. 11:00-23:00. Not a bad pizza chain, the cozy atmosphere is guaranteed, but there are 2 more cafes on prospekt Traktorostroiteley, 59/56 and on Pushkinskaya st. 79/1.Budget. edit

Fortuna, Kultury str. 6 (actually located on Trinklera str http://maps.yandex.ua/-/CNxZjDP9), ☎702-17-72. You will be surprised by the interior (very Soviet "Stolovka" style!) But the food is really really great and cheap. Traditional Ukrainian cuisine. You should try soups: Borsch, Solyanka, Okroshka (cold soup), pelmeni, fried eggs with salo.edit

Paris, Petrovskogo st. 30/32, [8]. A great place for people who like desserts, to go on a date or just want to relax in a cozy atmosphere to enjoy fondue. It is amazingly popular; sometimes it is not easy to find a seat there. They have just opened their own theatre where French films or performances takes place every evening.edit

Buy beer from a kiosk and sit and drink it in Schevchenko Park. It's what everybody does, even though you might now be fined by local police.

Coffee life, Pushkinska 43, ☎+380 67 483-5948. 08:00-23:00. Named as the first Starbucks in Kharkiv, this place opens unusually open for Ukraine and offers free Wi-Fi. It's extremely popular with Kharkiv expats, a nice place to visit, have a drink and browse the net.edit

There are plenty of hotels in Kharkiv, but the quality of them is very often far from what westerners expect. Most of hotels are not in the online reservation systems which makes it difficult to find them.

Aurora Hotel**** (Аврора), Artema Street 10/12, ☎+380 57 7524040 ([email protected]), [11]. is situated in the center of the city and offers 28 modern rooms, free Wi-Fi and a nice-looking restaurant. The transportation options are metro or car.edit

Chichikov Hotel**** (Чичиков), Gogolya Street 6/8, ☎+380 57 7522300 ([email protected]), [12]. Just a year older than Aurora hotel and also located in the centre. The rooms correspond to western standards though they are quite small.edit

Hotel 19, Sumskaya street, 19. Nice, low-cost (by European standards) place to stay with home-like atmosphere, but high-quality (nice staff, very clean and new, not shabby), breakfast in the restaurant in the same building, quiet because of its location in a back courtyard. edit

International Hostel Old Kharkiv **, Poltavskyi Schlyakh, 41. Basic place, but clean and with wi-fi.edit

Kharkiv Hotel***. Located in downtown right by the University (Университет) metro station. The hotel is quite old so it is best to be sure that you will get a nice room. Prices of the rooms are too high for the look and service you get.edit